Pumpkin Carving

Don't forget to come to pumpkin carving today! Architecture majors know how to carve a pumpkin right.

Happy Halloween!!

From your friendly AIAS.

Fall Quad Schedule

Check out Fall Quad Schedule.

***notice BEAUX ARTS BALL on Saturday night!!

AIAS Fall Quad in CINCINNATI

Hello all!

Hope you are getting excited about fall quad coming up! It begins Friday October 14, 2011. The conference will last until Sunday October 16. It is a great way to meet lots of architecture students from across the Midwest. Also, it is located in one of the greatest, exciting cities.... Cincinnati!

Here is some important information and sites to get prepared for the big event:

The facebook group link: http://www.facebook.com/groups/Fall2011MidwestQuad

To register and get more information on the event visit: aiasfallquad2011.com

"Solutions?"

For anyone who did not receive the most recent issue of CRIT magazine:

“Solutions?” Let’s talk.

Brett Roeth

This editorial was first printed in issue 71 (Spring 2011) of Crit, the journal of the American Institute of Architecture Students (AIAS). It is reprinted here with permission and may not be reproduced without the express permission of AIAS.

“Think globally, act locally” is the sine qua non of the sustainability movement. These four words express the fundamental idea of a powerful system of ethics: individual actions have impacts beyond one’s immediate and obvious surroundings. While this motto guides many of our decisions about our built and natural environments, it seems not to have infiltrated our political, social, and cultural behaviors as pervasively. We watch civil uprisings in Tunisia, Egypt, and Libya with a certain mixture of awe, confusion, and distance, not fully understanding that our nation formed out of rather similar sentiments and actions 235 years ago. We denounce the oppressive regimes that leverage fear to control the populace – without realizing that a regime founded upon antipathy has risen in our very backyard.

I’m speaking here of Arizona, a state which students at three NAAB accredited schools of architecture call home. Within the last year, Arizona has enacted laws with the stated purpose of curbing illegal immigration and protecting American citizens. Yet many contend these laws violate not only the fundamental principles embodied in the United States Constitution, but the civil and human rights of millions of persons, non-citizens and citizens alike. A growing segment of the American population understands Arizona as a place characterized by xenophobia, violence, and incivility.

You might be asking yourself, why is this an appropriate topic for an editorial in Crit? What does this have to do with architecture? What does legislation in Arizona have to do with me?

These events have everything to do with architecture: architecture and society are inextricable. Buildings are parts of larger environs. They define the boundaries of ‘public’ and ‘private’, frame our perceptions of the world around us, and create spaces in which people are either welcomed or shunned. Just as they have ecological impacts, buildings have important (but often overlooked and misunderstood) sociopolitical impacts far beyond their walls. The discipline of architecture is affected by so many facets of society – the economy, the environment, law – and we must acknowledge this. Architect and educator Neil Leach has written, “Buildings should not simply reflect passively changing social conditions; they should be active instruments of change,” noting that “architecture is deeply embedded within economic and other structures of power.”[1] ...

Farewell, class of 2011!

You will be missed!

Keep reading for the "final rap"...

End of the Year

As the year is wrapping up, so is the AIAS!

I'd like to thank you all for your contributions to the club, and I hope that you've had as much fun as we have this year! This year's Beaux Arts Ball was the biggest we've had in the four years that I've been here, and never before have we been able to raise so much money through fundraisers. We thank the graduate students who offered their time and skills to present through our Lecture Series, as well as our guests from Career Services and Past-President Brett Roeth-- and congratulate grad students Kris Kunkel and Brian Albrecht for entering the AIAS Student Design competition earlier in the year. I'd also like to thank my amazing exec board for all of their hard work-- planning fundraisers, the Chicago Trip, Beaux Arts Ball, Freedom By Design projects, lectures, workshops, socials, and everything else.

I've enjoyed watching this organization grow, and I can only see it becoming bigger and better in years to come. Tyler Rice and Kat Roosen have been busy planning Fall Quad 2011, our regional AIAS conference that our chapter is co-hosting with UC next fall. Fall Quad is a really exciting opportunity for us to show off all of the best qualities of our faculty & department, as well as the strength of our chapter.

We have also tried really hard this year, to make AIAS more accessible through our twitter, blog, and website. Though these are all new and works in progress, we hope that these enable students to better keep up-to-date with what's going on, and spread awareness throughout the department. We also hope that these tools will be used to promote events within the department, highlight student achievements, spread news within the profession, and connect with other chapters nation-wide.

I hope that you all continue to follow the AIAS and support what we do, we promise you won't regret getting involved!

See you all Sunday, at our bi-annual End-of-the-Semester Party!


Best of luck with all finals & presentations,
It's been real--

Sarah Pytlik
Your Former AIAS Chapter President

Architecture Never Looked So Good

Hey guys,

Carolyn has been working on a website for our chapter:

AIAS Miami U Chapter Website

Please check it out & leave comments, suggestions, advice, etc. We'd love to hear from you! It's still a work in progress, and we want to make it as useful and accessible as possible.

Sneak Preview.

Meet your 2011/2012 Exec!

Congrats are in order! We'd like to present your 2011/2012 AIAS Executive Officers:

President - Tyler Rice
Vice President - Kat Roosen
Treasurer - Abby Crock
Secretary - Anna Adkins
Social Chairs - Meredith Miller & Michelle Parrish
Graphics/Blog/Website - Ally Brock & Gabrielle Steffel
Firm Coordinators - Hannah Pempus & Rachel Serfling
Fundraising - Stephanie Shill & Juan Restrepo
Class Representative - Emily Burrows
Freedom By Design - Tiffany Jenkins

We expect great things from all of you, so make us proud!

Guest Appearance!

Brett Roeth is making a trip to visit our AIAS Chapter on Wednesday, April 6th at Noon in Room 201 to discuss his soon-to-be published editorial in the AIAS National Publication, Crit. He's excited to come back home and see some familiar faces! For those of you that don't know Brett, he was our AIAS Chapter President from  2007/2008 and 2008/2009, before being elected as the National Vice President of the AIAS, where he served his office in Washington, DC from 2009 to 2010. Brett worked hard to successfully revive Miami's Chapter of AIAS and make it what it is today, and has since broadened his influence throughout the National Organization. Please plan to attend, and do a little research to learn more about what he's coming here to discuss. 

The following is from Brett, introducing his editorial (click for whole article & links): 

"Within the last year, Arizona – a state which students at three NAAB accredited schools of architecture call home – has enacted or proposed numerous laws with the stated purpose of curbing illegal immigration and protecting American citizens. Yet many contend these laws violate not only the fundamental principles embodied in the United States Constitution, but the civil and human rights of millions of persons. A growing segment of the American population understands Arizona as a place characterized by xenophobia, violence, and incivility." ...

Congratulations!

Kris Kunkle and Brian Albrecht were published as Special Merit Winners for the 2015 Pan American Games Awards Pavilion Student Design Competition, hosted by the AIAS, The Vinyl Institute and the Canadian Plastics Industry Association! Go check out their boards & give them some high-fives for all their hard work.

Check it out on the AIAS Website: AIAS Competition Winners
& the (soon to be added) Competition Website: http://vinyl.aias.org/

Check it out!

Stephen Young & Sarah Pytlik are showing their collection at the MUCFD Annual Spring Fashion Show, and would like to invite all our their friends in the architecture department to come to the show! In addition to making a collection, they have also undertaken the set design and overall creative direction of the show as part of their capstone/independent studio.

All proceeds go to the Talawanda High School Arts Program, which MUCFD has partnered with to help out after the program took severe budget cuts last year. The club also works with the high school students, teaching them sewing techniques and instructing on design.

Make an event out of it, use it as an excuse to dress up, and come support the arts!


RSVP via the official event facebook page: MUCFD Fashion Show

Ready for Career Fair?

If you are planning on attending career fair this Friday-- or planning on getting a job someday, 

you may want to attend our free resume & professional development workshop tonight (Monday) from 5-6 in Alumni, Room 1. We are having a professional development specialist come in from Miami's Career Center to help everyone clean up our resumes to make them look spic and span, and ready to hand out to our visiting firm reps on Friday. 

Bring your friends and who ever sits next to you in studio and let's get professional! 

Elections!

It's that time of year again--
The time when we start thinking about who is going to take things over for next year!

At our next all-member meeting, this Wednesday, March 15th at 5pm in Alumni Room 1, we will re-introduce our exec board and tell you about what we do. If you are interested in running for a position, even if you have never served on an exec board before, come check it out and see if it's for you!

(You can also sit in on any of our exec meetings, which meet every Monday at 5pm in the breakout room off of the research lab studio/wind tunnel.)

From my personal experience, I think its fair to say that I've learned just as much from my positions in AIAS than I have from most of my classes. If you have any questions, feel free to email me at pytlikse@muohio, or talk to any of our current exec members:

(Here's a run down)

Chapter President - Sarah Pytlik

Vice President - Stephen Young

Treasurer - Cameron Konop

Secretary -  McKinley Mertz

Social Chairs - Rachel Momenee & Meagan Calnon

Freedom By Design Chair - Mary Dickerson

Fundraising Chair - Kendall Claus & Anna Adkins

Graphics - Carolyn LeCompte & Gabrielle Steffel

Fall Quad Chairs - Tyler Rice & Anna Adkins

Blog/Website - Jenni Cahill

Firm Coordinators - Tyler Rice, Jeff Kloosterman & Meredith Miller

Class Representatives - Hannah Pempus, Juan Restrepo, Julia Munro, Kris Kunkle, Michelle Parrish & Mike Bednar, Tiffany Jenkins

Also,...

keep in mind that there are NATIONAL AIAS (PAID) POSITIONS that you can run for each winter at FORUM. We haven't had anyone from Miami run in the past two years, but three years ago, our past president Brett Roeth was elected as National Vice President, and served for a year in Washington, DC. Not only is this is a real post-grad job opportunity, but it's a great way to progress within the profession and network before you take the next step. This isn't immediate, but it's something to think about long-term, and you would need exec board experience within the AIAS in order to run.

See you on Wednesday!

Field Trip!

Ok, so how many of you went to Spring Quad last year at UK? Remember THEIR Beaux Arts Ball? If you don't, let me just say this... 3,000 people, 9 DJs, huge warehouse party. This year our friends Madelynn Ringo and Donovan Justice were on the Beaux Arts board, so let's go visit! Let me (sarah) know if you are interested in going, if we have enough people that want to go we can try and set up a carpool thing and get a room for the night.

April 9th. UK's Massive Beaux Arts Party.

Beaux Arts 2011 at UK

Recap

Beaux Arts Ball 2011 was the BIGGEST we've ever had! (at least in the last four years) Huge thanks to everyone who came! We hope you had fun -- we sure did.

Don't forget to thank our social chairs, Rachel Momenee & Meagan Calnon for putting it together!

Cheers from the Social Chairs :)

Comment and let us know how your night went! ;)

Revit Workshop

AIAS is hosting a Revit Workshop this Wednesday, Feb. 23rd (tomorrow) at 5:00 pm in Room 1 during our All-Member meeting. We will cover all the club stuff in the first ten minutes, then hand it off to Brian Albrecht, who will be giving a tutorial/workshop on Revit until 6:00 pm. We will also be selling PIZZA during the workshop, handing out club t-shirts to those who still need to pick them up, and selling Beaux Arts tickets to any late-comers. 

If you are a member, plan to come for at least the first 15 minutes to get information on what we're doing this month & pick up a shirt! 

DANCE PARTY

Due to a burst of last minute enthusiasm, we are extending ticket sales until Wednesday, Feb 23rd, in both the Atrium and at Shriver Box Office. If you haven't been to a Beaux Arts yet, you have no idea what  you are missing! 

Listen to Gaga, and JUST DANCE.

remember when...

Nobody can forget Brett & his mask.

Or Chalo!

(click for more pictures & epicness)

The Big Apple

This past weekend, Stephen Young and myself traveled to New York for some job hunting and sight seeing and the like. Here's our "Top 5 things you should check out" list:

1. The Wright Cafè: Chic Cafè designed by FLW himself, in the Guggenheim 

2. The Guggenheim: Amazing FLW building, later in his career.

3. Longchamp SoHo Store: Incredible interior. 

4. New York Times, Time Square: Great example of Sustainable Design.

5. Top of the Rockefeller Building: Because the Empire State Building is overrated, and this view is priceless.

Check It Out

Friday morning in the Rotunda is Diane Fellow's Film & Mixed Media Open House. AIAS is catering with pancakes, baked goods, orange juice, etc. We'll also be raffling off Inception on DVD-- so stop by, fill up a plate, buy a ticket, and check out all of the media projects in the Rotunda!

Also, go check out the cage gallery for all of the awesome Summer Scholars projects from this past summer from Josh Carson, Matt Scott, Emily Carr, Anna Chifala, Alex Fritz, and Claire Saltzman. Projects  range from the "Evolving Shelf" (which I am obsessed with) to Sacred Architecture and OTR. 

Spring Quad 2011

No Boundaries, No Limits:
Exploring the Art in Architecture

This year's Spring Quad 2011 is hosted by Southern Illinois University in Carbondale, IL. The theme explores the art in architecture, with lots of hands-on workshops that introduce students to other art forms and techniques that they can integrate into their own designs. Jill Downen, an artist whose work focuses on the human body and architecture, will be giving the Keynote Lecture.

Unfortunately, Carbondale is relying on snailmail for registration fees, so if you are interested in going, plan to attend our next all-member meeting Feb. 23rd to sign up, and we will mail them all in together.


Registration is open from February 9th until March 15th, and is only $20 for AIAS members.

Check out their website for more information: http://springquad2011.architecture.siuc.edu/

Chicago Meeting

 

Hey Chicago People, we are meeting on Monday, Feb. 7th at 5:00pm in Room 200 to discuss all the lovely details of the trip! This is mandatory for all who are going on the trip. Bring $10, something to write with, and GET EXCITED!

BEAUX ARTS BALL 2011

You know you wanna go. 

You know you wanna bring all of your friends.

Not only are we selling tickets at the box office (so you can use your MUlaa or your debit), but you can buy tickets IN ALUMNI & not freeze on the walk to Shriver, every monday/wednesday/friday from 12:30 to 1:00. So bring your cash, stop by the atrium before studio and buy your tickets now!

AIA Dayton Design Charrette

On January 29th, six students attended the annual high school design charrette hosted by AIA Dayton at Interbrand Design in Dayton, Ohio. Every year, AIA Dayton hosts the charrette for high school students interested in architecture to help them develop skills in designing, model building, and presenting their work. The students attend the charrette before they begin to work on their individual designs for a design competition.

The students were divided into groups and given several tasks, such as building a model and brainstorming designs for different types of teen lounges, where we helped guide them through the process of design. They then practiced presenting by explaining their projects to the rest of the group. This year the design competition is for a teen lounge with any theme the student chooses.

We also had several AIAS members go back two weeks later to help with the mid-review critiques.

Brainstorm Session.

January Bake Sale

Our first bake sale of the semester was just a little bit on the chilly side. We thank all of you that donated baked goods & time, and are looking forward to selling more puppy chow in warmer weather! Our next bake sale is February 25th, so mark your calendar and whip up a batch of your best goodies.

Three Brave Survivors.

Check out the Atelier Programs Blog

The goal of the atelier is to provide a schematic design for the historic church on Race St.and 15th in Over-the-Rhine. Currently two juniors and four december graduates are working with John Blake at CR architecture+design.

Keep updated with our work at:
http://atelier2011.blogspot.com/

Welcome Back!

Hey all!  Hope your classes are going well this semester.

We've got a really cool opportunity coming up this Saturday!  AIA Dayton is looking for 5 volunteers to help with a high school design charette in Centerville, OH.  The times are from noon to 4pm, and lunch will be provided!

Please email Sarah at aiasmiamiu@gmail.com if you're interested!  Free lunch and the kids will love it!